Wisconsin-Superior tabbed for fourth-straight UMAC women's basketball title
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Heading into its fourth season in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), the University of Wisconsin-Superior hasn't lost a regular season conference contest which extends a streak of 48 games. Add in postseason games, and the Yellowjackets have won 54-straight against UMAC teams.
The Yellowjackets will look to extend that streak further in 2018-19 as they were again the favorite to win a fourth-straight UMAC championship in the Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Wednesday.
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Poll |
Matchups |
Team Previews |
2018-19 Schedule |
While the Yellowjackets were picked by the UMAC coaches, they were not a unanimous pick. The Yellowjackets topped the poll with 61 points and six first-place votes. Bethany Lutheran College followed the Yellowjackets by just three total points and picked up two first-place votes.
In conference play last season, the Yellowjackets won 14 of 16 games by 10 points or more. The Yellowjackets boasted a remarkable 24.8 points per game (ppg) scoring margin in UMAC games which was nearly 13 ppg more than Bethany Lutheran that was second. They also scored 74.3 ppg and allowed on average less than 50 ppg.
If the Yellowjackets want to sustain their success, though, they'll need to rely heavily on returning All-UMAC First Team performer Hannah Norlin after seeing three all-conference performers graduate including three-time Player of the Year Hailey Kontny. Norlin ranked in the top 10 in scoring (13.1 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg) last winter. Eva Reinertsen should also be a strong contributor for th Yellowjackets as a junior.
The Vikings lost the conference title game to the Yellowjackets by just 12 points and they reload with a ton of talent that could help them dethrone the 'Jackets this season. Haley Sandin enters her fourth season leading the Vikings after tallying 18.4 ppg to lead the confernce year ago. She is joined by last season's rookie of the year Abby Olson and fellow sophomore Hannah Geistfeld who each averaged in double figures a year ago.
The University of Minnesota Morris was picked third by the coaches with 48 points, but the University of Northwestern trailed by just one point with 47 points and collected one first-place vote. The Cougars return a lot of talent in First Team pick Elli Stevenson and Second Team selection Kendra Raths with the hopes of shaking up the conference standings. The Eagles will look to make moves up the standings as well and will be well-positioned to do so with decorated All-UMAC performer Amy Berglund set to return for her senior season.
The College of St. Scholastica was selected fifth in the poll with 36 points and was followed in sixth by Martin Luther College with 25 points. All-UMAC Second Team pick Michaela Walther will look to lead the Saints to a second-straight UMAC postseason berth, while Emily Witkowski will attempt to lead the Knights back into the playoffs after they missed out in 2017-18.
The poll rounded out with Crown College seventh (19 points), North Central University (16 points) and Northland College (14 points). Crown returns Stevey De La Ossa to lead a trio of junior returners. North Central welcomes back Haleigh Filer from injury to help the Rams improve and Katie Taylor will head up the LumberJills returners.
Most UMAC squads open up the 2018-19 season with non-conference action next weekend beginning Thursday, Nov. 8. Conference play then begins Wednesday, Dec. 5 and runs through Dec. 15-16 before the holiday break. Games begin again Wednesday, Jan. 2. The season concludes Saturday, Feb. 16 with the conference tournament set for the week of Monday, Feb. 18.
2018-19 UMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wisconsin-Superior - 61 points (6 First Place Votes)
2. Bethany Lutheran - 58 points (2 First Place Vote)
3. Minnesota Morris - 48 points
4. Northwestern - 47 points (1 First Place Vote)
5. St. Scholastica- 36 points
6. Martin Luther - 25 points
7. Crown - 19 points
8. North Central - 16 points
9. Northland - 14 points
Team Previews
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Bethany Lutheran College
Lyle Jones | 17th season |
2017-18 Season
12-4 UMAC, 20-7 Overall | T-2nd |
Postseason: Lost to UW-Superior in UMAC tournament championship game
Top Returners
- Haley Sandin, Sr., G | All-UMAC First Team | 17.5 ppg, 4.3 assists/game, 216 FTA |
- Abby Olson, So., G | UMAC Honorable Mention and Freshman of the Year | 13.3 ppg, 43.3 FG%, 4.7 reb/game |
- Hanna Geistfeld, So., C | 12.0 ppg, 47.8 FG%, 5.6 reb/game |
The College of St. Scholastica
Stacy Deadrick | 25th Season |
2017-18 Season
9-7 UMAC, 14-12 | T-4th |
Postseason: Lost to Northwestern in UMAC Tournament First Round (52-39)
Top Returners
- Michala Walther, Sr., G | 2016-17 Second Team All-UMAC; 2017-18 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 10.1 points per game, 42 steals, .333 3-point FG pct. |
- Danielle Cieluch, Sr., F | 5.6 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 70 assists |
- Kaylee Kennedy, So., G | 5.3 points per game, .880 FT pct., 22 Steals |
Need to Know
Head Coach Stacy Deadrick went over 300 career wins last season.
Crown College
Kevin Boozikee | 6th Season |
2017-18 Season
5-11 UMAC, 10-15 | 6th |
Top Returners
- Stevey De La Ossa, Jr., G | 5.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.4 apg |
- Damonyka Roberts, Jr., G | 4.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .9 spg |
- Patricia Gibson, Jr., P |5.8 rpg, 4.0 ppg, 42% FG |
Need to Know
Last year Crown women’s basketball set a new school record with ten wins in a single season.
Martin Luther College
Dave Biedenbender (interim) | 1st season |
2017-18 Season
4-12 UMAC, 6-19 | t-7th place |
Top Returners
- Emily Witkowski, So., F | 2017-18 stats: 7.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 25 3FG |
- Ruth Buchholz, Jr., F | 2017-18 stats: 3.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 14.5 MPG |
- Faith Otte, Jr., G | 2017-18 stats: 21.5 MPG, 16 starts, 2.8 PPG |
Need to Know
Dave Biedenbender is serving as the interim HC this season for Dan Gawrisch, who will miss this season before returning in 2019-20.
North Central University
Paul Brunner | 4th Season |
2017-18 Season
4-12 UMAC, 9-15 | 7th|
Top Returners
- Haleigh Filer, Sr., G | 8 ppg, 5.5 reb./g, 3ast./g | Only played in 8 games due to injury |
- Bethany Shield, So., G | 10 ppg, 3 ast./g, 3 stl./g |
- Allison Bulthuis, So., G | 6 ppg, 4 reb./g, 35% 3PT FG |
Need to Know
The Rams have improved their UMAC finish each year under Coach Brunner. They will return seven players and welcome nine incoming players.
Northland College
Daryle Tucker |5th season |
2017-18 Season
1-15 UMAC, 3-22 | 9th|
Top Returners
- Katie Taylor, Sr., G | 9.5 ppg, 3.8 rbds./g, 1.6 stl/g |
- Ashton Meadows, Sr., F | 7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg
University of Minnesota Morris
Tim Grove | 13th season |
2017-18 Season
12-4 UMAC, 13-13 | T-2nd |
Postseason: lost to Bethany in UMAC semis
Top Returners
- Elli Stevenson, Sr., G | 2018 All-UMAC First Team, 2017 All-UMAC First Team, 2016 All-UMAC Second Team | 13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.6 steals/game |
- Kendra Raths, Sr., F | 2018 All-UMAC Second Team, 2017 All-UMAC HM | 12.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.1 blocks/game |
- Abby Van Kempen, Jr., F | 2018 All-UMAC Defensive Team | 9.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.0 blocks/game |
Need to Know
Elli Stevenson is five points away from 1,000 career points; Abby Van Kempen led the conference in rebounding last season; Kendra Raths led the conference in blocked shots.
University of Northwestern
Aaron Kahl | 9th Season |
2017-18 Season
9-7 UMAC, 14-13 | T-4th |
Top Returners
- Amy Berglund, Sr., G | First Team All-UMAC, UMAC All-Defense, UMAC Player of the Week, UMAC Academic All-Conference | NCCAA North Central All-Region, NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week | 15.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.6 APG |
- Rio Landers, Jr., F | 7.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.4 BPG |
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Zach Otto-Fisher |2nd season |
2017-18 Season
16-0 UMAC, 23-5 | 1
st place |
Postseason: Top UMAC seed; Defeated Northwestern 65-544 in UMAC Semifinals: Defeated Bethany Lutheran 66-54 in UMAC Finals; NCAA Tournament appearance; Lost to UW-Whitewater in NCAA First Round
Top Returners
- Hannah Norlin, Sr., F | All-U.M.A.C. 1st Team (2017, 2018) | 13.9 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, .533 field goal percentage |
- Eva Reinertsen, Jr., F | U.M.A.C. Rookie of the Year (2017) | 187 points, 92 rebounds, 6.7 points per game |
- Emily Carpenter, Jr., G | 109 points, 50 assists, .350 3-point field goal percentage |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets have won four consecutive regular season conference championships – UMAC (2016, 2017, 2018) and WIAC (2015).